Accelerating innovation
Founded in 2016 as a partnership between KAUST and the Saudi British Bank ( SAAB ),
TAQADAM is a Saudi-based startup accelerator to empower big ideas , bold thinking and creativity . Through mentorship and targeted learning in ideation , product design , marketing and fundraising , founders gain the necessary skills to accelerate their startup ’ s growth , engage and activate new customers , and gather investors . Every year , a new TAQADAM cohort receives pre-seed funding to support their time in the accelerator , as well as access to a co-working space . At the completion of the program , selected graduates are eligible for non-dilutive , follow-on funding .
300 + startups funded
$ 60M
job opportunities presented
11k +
innovators reached in the last decade
During 2021 , 2 of the 75 students shortlisted and invited to pitch their ideas for the competition were proudly from KAUST , one “ Breaking the Wall of Unaffordable Wastewater Treatment ” and another “ Breaking the Wall of Sustainable Hydrogen from Waste ”.
Falling Walls Science Summit was a hybrid event in 2021 and took place from November 7-9 .
Did you know …
KAUST researchers have launched multiple awardwinning start up companies ?
KAUST signs MoU to foster innovation translation
After signing a first
Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) with KAUST in March 2022 , King Abdullah Economic City ( KAEC ) extended its engagement with KAUST by signing another
MoU between the university Research & Technology Park ( KRTP ) and KAEC ’ s Industrial Valley ( IV ). The agreement aims to enhance the collaborative framework that has allowed both parties to work towards the advancement of science and industry through the utilization of world-class core facilities and personnel at both KAUST and KAEC ’ s Industrial Valley ( IV ). The goal of the agreement is to allow Industrial Valley tenants working in various research and development fields to access KAUST ’ s KRTP . KAEC will also help identify eligible SMEs and corporations and facilitate the set-up of R & D facilities at KRTP , effectively bolstering the park ’ s innovation ecosystem .
KAUST students shine at Falling Walls
The
Falling Walls Lab is an international event that provides students with the opportunity to participate in a worldclass pitch competition and networking forum where innovation is the center of every project . The competition , which aims to bring to discussion what walls in science and society should fall next , also acts as a bridge , bringing together a diverse and interdisciplinary pool of students , researchers , and early-career professionals . Over the years KAUST students have benefited from invaluable experiences , including exposure to industry leaders and cutting-edge discussions .
9.3 ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
Celebrating the importance of creativity and innovation
On April 2022 , KAUST celebrated the
World Creativity and Innovation Day by engaging with The KAUST School ( TKS ) students in a challenge focused on innovation and creativity to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals . The two-week challenge ran in partnership between TKS , the Office of Sustainability and KAUST Smart fostered students ’ design thinking skills to materialize creative and innovative solutions to current sustainability challenges .
With guidance from KAUST staff , researchers and school teachers , students learned about the SDGs and the role that innovation and SDG 9 play in tackling all other SDGs . The students then selected a challenge associated with one of the presented SDGs and created prototypes and engagement / awareness materials around their proposed solutions . The challenge culminated in a big showcase at TKS , open to all KAUST community .
Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) between the Research & Technology Park ( KRTP ) of KAUST and KAEC
Cooperating to support impact-driven startups
KAUST has partnered with VentureSouq , Wa ’ ed Venture , the US Mission in the UAE and startAD to launch the second edition of the
Conscious Investor Fellowship ( CIF ) in 2022 . startAD , an Abu Dhabi-based startup accelerator powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi ( NYUAD ), launched the first edition of the fellowship in 2020 , also with the support of KAUST , to enable regional investors in the GCC to create sustainable change through highimpact investments . The fellowship was considered the region ’ s first conscious investor fellowship , ensuring innovation rooted in sustainable practices is supported and accelerated .
23 | KAUST SDG HIGHLIGHT REPORT